Colorado high school seniors who missed out on taking the SAT last spring will have several chances to take it for free this fall, the state education department said Monday.
The test has diminished in importance for Colorado high school students since it was canceled in the spring amid widespread school closures. It won’t be required for admission to the state’s public colleges and universities next year, nor will it be necessary to meet new graduation requirements, with the State Board of Education giving districts flexibility.
Nonetheless, state education officials had promised earlier this year to find a way for students who want to do so to make up the test. The Colorado Department of Education will use money it saved by not administering other assessments to cover the costs of giving the SAT at school during the fall. High school juniors will also have the opportunity to take the PSAT, which they normally would have taken as 10th graders.
“I know many of our students will still want to take a college entrance assessment as another way, in addition to grades and activities, to demonstrate their accomplishments,” Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes said in a press release. “I’m pleased we will be able to offer the SAT to our seniors and the PSAT to our juniors — at no cost to them — to provide another opportunity for students to demonstrate their skills and knowledge to postsecondary institutions, as well as scholarship providers.”
The school-day SAT is scheduled for Sept. 23, with a makeup day of Oct. 28. The PSAT will be offered Oct. 14, with a makeup day of Oct. 28.
For school districts that don’t choose to offer the test during a school day, the state will offer three Saturday test dates.
The SAT and PSAT are optional for students. The results won’t be used in school ratings, either.
Most Colorado school districts are currently planning to return to in-person instruction for the 2020-21 school year. State education officials said that these test dates may be canceled if schools end up closing again due to public health conditions and likely would not be rescheduled.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the date on which the SAT will first be offered in school.
